LIBRARY ELECTION

For 2007 the library is seeking voter approval of $189, 567 in special district funding. The total budget is $243, 205.

For more information about serving on the board of trustees or about the election please call Jody Ford, library director, at 687-7023 or Jim Hoover, president of the board of trustees, at 687-0676.

LIBRARY BUDGET FACTS

Following are some facts about the Stone Ridge Library’s proposed 2007 budget.

The total proposed budget for 2007 is $243,205. Of that, $189,567 is special-district funding, ie, town taxes. That compares with the current budget figures of $231,700 and $165,200. The total budget increase is thus $11,505 and the tax increase is $24,367. In percentages, the budget increase is 4.9% and the tax increase is 14.75%.

What this means to the taxpayer:
The owners of a typical house (valued at $250,000) would see an increase of $5.50.

Property Value	Current Tax	Proposed 2007 Tax	Increase
$100,000	$18.05	$20.25	$2.20
$250,000	$45.12	$50.62	$5.50
$350,000	$63.17	$70.87	$7.70
$450,000	$81.22	$91.12	$9.90

(Source: Marbletown Assessor)

The library is asking for an increase because its expenses are climbing while government funding is being cut. Costs have gone up for utilities (fuel oil, for example), insurance and maintenance. There is a small and long-overdue payroll increase. At the same time Ulster County funding has been cut in half and may disappear entirely.